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Sounds like starter then. Whole starter is the way to go.. my bias is Autozone duralast lifetime warranty and they keep excellent track of warranty for you across the country. Fyi. also have someone check that there is no corrosion on either wire down at the starter.

Sounds like starter then. Whole starter is the way to go.. my bias is Autozone duralast lifetime warranty and they keep excellent track of warranty for you across the country. Fyi. also have someone check that there is no corrosion on either wire down at the starter.

Thanks for the tip on Autozone/duralast! I'd wondered about the corrosion myself-- isn't that why knocking on it worked to help start the thing last night? What I didn't think about, or know, is corrosion on the wiring. I will make sure they check it out. Thanks!!!

It's kinda like knocking corrosion off the inside of the starter, most likely the brushes inside the starter isn't getting good contact on the commutator because the brushes are worn down or the commutator is loaded up with carbon or both. Brushes can be replaced and commutator cleaned up. But that's what they do to a rebuilt starter. Next is the water pump, fuel pump, timing belt and stuff like that

Believe it or not the jolting you got from being hit is enough to crack the bond between the solenoid magnet and the housing. THe pounding the tow driver did most likely got it back in place enough to start it. Best to take it into a shop and have it tested/replaced. Some starters had a shock sensitive solenoid on them that would break on impacts of 20 mph or more disconnecting the starter motor and as they wore out that got more sensitive. Now thats all comp controlled.

As far as coating your battery cables don't bother with any of that stuff available at your auto parts store for that purpose, they don't work. If you've already had a "Bloom" problem nothing will cure it since you now have acid in the lead battery posts & the lead or copper of the battery cable connector and the wire itself, as you charge that acid will be forced out and "Bloom" again.

If you have newer parts then coat both the battery studs and the terminals on the wires with "Jet-Lube Kopr Coat" and you will never experience another bloom. I know it doesn't say that on the bottle and it's an anti-seize compound but it works. Also put a dab on your wheel lug nut studs next time they're off or run them off on a lazy day and do it so you don't get stuck on the side of a road with lug nuts you can't get off.

Use it sparingly, it's messy stuff but the bottle will last a lifetime, it was developed for the military for use on high current contacts. It's a high temperature grease with a molecular copper, not just ground up shavings. The mechanic who turned me on to it 30 years ago had no idea why it works, I don't either, it just does.

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"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see" John W Lennon

"People do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing" George Bernard Shaw

Good point on the trade off of keeping an older car alive or replacing it.

My sister is associated with some of the supposedly "Green" group who were pointing out to her that her old Land Cruiser burned far to much fuel and produced far too much pollution. She proceeded to point out that her vehicle was already in existence, that just building their new Prius produced far more pollution and used far more resources and energy then her old vehicle would ever use or burn in the additional life she would eek out of it with the help of her family of mechanics.

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"Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see" John W Lennon

"People do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing" George Bernard Shaw

i ran one of those cars for a few years - they are great and so prolific that every mechanic in the US knows them well. it wont cost a lot to have the solenoid and starter replaced as it is so quick to do and the starters are normally available as recon. i remember changing the starter outside on the street in ours.

just be aware of the ominous bearing noise from the back that comes from the drive, not the wheels. that is an expensive job.....

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